The 11 best detangler sprays to make hair brushing tear-free

Alcohol, paraben, and phthalate-free, the salon-recommended Rock the Locks Kids Not So Knotty Conditioning Detangler delivers lightweight and non-greasy detangling for all kinds of hair. Fine toddler manes to thicker pre-teen curls all come out knot-free without being weighed down with just a few pumps. But the best part? Its vacation-in-a bottle scent. (It says pineapple banana but it’s more like tropical sun tan lotion.) My ten-year-old even took it to sleepaway camp and had to hide it from her bunk mates because it’s that good. Bonus points for a kid-friendly, easy-to-use sprayer!

With the amount of hair on my kids’ heads, there have been periods of my life that I’ve bought a bottle of detangling spray every week. I love them, but spending a bazillion dollars on hair care isn’t something I’m willing to do. At our peak usage, Suave Kids’ 100% Natural Marigold Detangler Spray was a standing item on my grocery store shopping list. The marigold-infused spray works great even on unruly curls and though it’s budget-friendly, it’s free from sulfates, parabens or dyes and earns a clean rating from Target. The floral scent is soft without over-powering, so spritz with abandon!

An affordable option formulated to deliver extra moisture as well as knot-busting, Aussie Kids Moist Detangling Spray tames tangles and frizz without any of the nasties (sulfates, parabens and dyes). It’s a great option for thick, wild and curly hair and while in our experience it works best on wet hair, the most compelling endorsement comes from a reviewer who used it to dislodge those nightmare velcro ball “Bunchems” from their kiddo’s head. “It took about 10-15 minutes, but with this detangler I was able to get them all out without hurting her once.” Now that’s a miracle.

We love brands that come along for the ride from day one. From first tangles to big kid rats nests, Honest Company’s lightweight detangling spray helps nourish and moisturize hair while also giving it a strengthening boost with ingredients like quinoa extract, shea butter, argan oil and jojoba protein. It’s a great choice for baby fine flyaways and easily breakable strands! The sweetly scented orange and vanilla formula can be used on both damp and dry hair to keep hair-combing tears at bay whether it’s a hair washing day or not.

Even the most hair brushing-averse kiddos can be swayed by a fun scent. And Hello Bello’s watermelon scented Conditioning Mist & Detangler offers more than just a delicious smell! It’s formulated with plant-based ingredients like coconut oil, marshmallow root and aloe to make hair silky soft whether sprayed on wet or dry hair. That said, the addition of coconut oil means it can be a bit heavy for super fine strands.

The post bath time routine can be fraught with tears for one reason or another, but hair brushing doesn’t have to be one of them. To tame toddler snarls, we love the lemony coconut-scented detangling spray from Tubby Todd. Not only is it free of all the yucks like parabens, SLS and synthetic fragrance, it’s also powered by a variety of natural oils (mango seed butter, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil) and baobab to help protect strands from environmental stressors as well.

You know those splurges that give you a glimpse of the other side and then you regret it because you can never go back to the cheap stuff? Well don’t buy this unless you’re ready to roll around in that greener grass and never, ever leave. I made the glorious mistake of snatching up a bottle off the shelf at T.J. Maxx and at the first use my daughter declared she was having the best hair day of her life. (As her mom, I can say this apple did not fall far from the tree.) She wasn’t wrong. As the name aptly states, this miracle product not only detangles like a dream, it also leaves curls gorgeously defined without making them crunchy or weighed down at the top. It’s equally great for fine hair like mine, offering heat and UV protectant and leaving hair smooth and flyaway free after blow drying. Alternatively, you can spritz on dry hair instead of a weightier styling cream for controlled, silky locks.

Whether long and straight or coarse and curly, you can’t go wrong with this super affordable formula from Pantene. It’s gentle and lightweight enough for my superfine strands but performs equally well on both of my curly kids. After a long windy beach day or hours of pool time, it’s the best defense against dry, impossibly tangled hair. The fresh smelling spray works wonders at smoothing snarls and with added antioxidants, it helps hair stay stronger for the next rats nest you do battle against.

As someone with less hair than your average preschooler, I can say most detanglers weren’t made with my mane in mind. But fine hair gets tangly too! And to make matters worse, it’s more prone to breakage. (At least mine is!) The weightless R+Co Pinstripe Intense Detangling Spray is packed with some seriously effective ingredients like ginger root, acerola fruit extract, and abyssinica seed oil to help neutralize hard water (a circumstance that drys hair out and leaves it brittle) and hydrate locks as it works out knots. It does require a few extra sprays since it’s a thinner formula but all the better for baby fine hair.

Not only is my hair thin and fine, it can also be as greasy as a side of fries by the end of the day. Most detanglers do nothing to help extend the life of a non-greasy look–except Philip B. Introduced to me by my hair dresser, this detangler is powered by apple cider vinegar to help balance your hair’s pH, sealing each strand’s cuticle so it can stay shiny and healthy without holding onto build up. (Note it doesn’t smell awesome, but it fades quickly.)

There are very few hair products I can share with my kids, but this is one of them. (Granted, I hide it from them because it’s not cheap and that’s just the kind of parent I am.) The aloe-infused formula easily detangles my tresses before brushing post-shower and since I’ve been using it I’ve noticed far less breakage. (Probably because I don’t have to yank through snarls.) It’s lightweight enough to prevent greasiness, but works hard enough to detangle thicker, curly hair as well. One thing to note however is the scent. It’s a bit on the masculine side, which I personally love but isn’t what you’d typically find in detanglers!